Dolphin Bycatch Welfare in Small-Scale Fisheries

Small-scale and artisanal fisheries cause significant dolphin bycatch that receives less attention than industrial fishing but imposes serious welfare costs on dolphin populations.

Key Facts

Small-scale fisheries account for 40% of global fish catch and employ 90% of the world's fishers
Gillnets and purse seines used in small-scale fisheries are major dolphin bycatch sources
Common dolphins in the Bay of Biscay sustain 10,000+ bycatch deaths annually from French and Spanish fisheries
Acoustic pingers on nets reduce dolphin bycatch by 50-70% but add cost for small operators
Vaquita marina population fell to fewer than 20 individuals largely from totoaba gillnet bycatch

Welfare Considerations

Dolphins entangled in fishing nets experience panicked, exhausting struggle before drowning. The distress response involves intense thrashing that injures fins and skin, while breath-holding capacity decreases rapidly under exertion. Dolphins that survive bycatch entanglement may sustain injuries that prevent normal feeding or swimming. The near-extinction of the vaquita demonstrates how quickly small-scale bycatch can devastate an entire species. Pinger subsidies and net marking programs that protect dolphins while supporting small-scale fishers address both welfare and livelihood concerns.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood from fisheries with certified bycatch reduction programs
Support WWF and EIA campaigns for small-scale fisheries bycatch standards
Advocate for pinger subsidies to make bycatch reduction tools accessible to small operators
Learn about vaquita conservation and support emergency intervention programs